Bee's knees

Bee’s knees is a classic prohibition-era cocktail made with gin, honey, and lemon. It has a sweet and citrusy flavor profile and is often served chilled.

Bee’s knees recipe

  • 2oz gin
  • 1oz honey syrup
  • 1oz lemon juice
  • garnish with lemon peel

Combine gin, honey syrup and lemon juice into a mixing tin. Shake. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

Directions for how to make the Bee’s knees

  1. Combine 2 oz of gin, 1 oz of honey syrup and 1 oz of lemon juice into a mixing tin.
  2. Shake the mixture well to combine the ingredients.
  3. Fill a cocktail glass with ice to cool it down.
  4. Strain the mixture into the chilled cocktail glass.
  5. Garnish with a lemon peel to add an extra touch of flavor and aesthetic appeal.
  6. Serve and enjoy your delicious Bee’s Knees drink.

Tips for how to make the perfect Bee’s knees

  • Use fresh lemon juice for a tart and zesty taste
  • Use local honey to provide a unique and floral sweetness
  • Shake with ice to create a frothy texture
  • Garnish with a lemon twist for an extra touch of citrus flavor

Alcohol-free alternative to the Bee’s knees

An alcohol-free alternative to the Bee’s Knees cocktail could be a mocktail made with honey, lemon juice, and tonic water. To make the mocktail, simply mix 2 ounces of honey syrup (equal parts honey and water) and 1 1/2 ounces of fresh lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with tonic water and garnish with a lemon wheel. You can also add a dash of bitters to add some complexity to the drink. This mocktail is refreshing, tangy, and slightly sweet – a perfect alternative to a classic Bee’s Knees cocktail.

Bee’s knees fun facts

  1. Bee’s knees is a cocktail that originated in the prohibition era, when people added honey and lemon to their gin to mask the taste of poor quality alcohol.
  2. The name “Bee’s Knees” was a popular slang phrase in the 1920s which meant “the best” or “the height of excellence”.
  3. Some variations of the Bee’s Knees include adding orange juice or substituting the gin with bourbon or rum.
  4. The drink was featured in the popular television series, Mad Men, where it was ordered by the character Roger Sterling.
  5. The Bee’s Knees is commonly garnished with a lemon twist or a sprig of fresh rosemary for added flavor.